bystanders

plural of bystander
as in spectators
someone who sees or watches something bystanders rushed to help the victim of the mugging

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bystanders But during a crisis, bystanders often struggle to find one nearby. Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2025 When a World War II-era bomb is found buried under a London construction site, the authorities are determined to evacuate the throngs of innocent bystanders in the vicinity. Kevin Cassidy, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025 So what did the person do to alert bystanders? Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025 As bystanders watched, the luxury yacht lurched to one side, tilting dangerously before taking on water. Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025 Recognizing the public as partners and not bystanders makes our cities and country stronger. Lauren Buitta, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025 During the rescue operation, a number of bystanders arrived at the scene and there were live updates posted on the radio, according to Liberty Township fire officials. Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025 The beloved New Orleans tradition has its roots in African American jazz funerals, in which grieving family members march with the deceased alongside a band and trailed by a second line of dancing friends and bystanders. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2025 Video circulating on social media shows the two men on the ground embroiled in a physical altercation as bystanders attempt to separate them. Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bystanders
Noun
  • The outdoor artificial surface will be replaced with a grass pitch, which will become the centrepiece with a new stand for around 500 spectators.
    James Pearce, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Tens of thousands of spectators in Beijing looked on as the People’s Republic unveiled laser weapons, nuclear ballistic missiles, and giant underwater drones alongside armored vehicles, tanks, and parading soldiers whose marching prowess put the rest of the world to shame.
    Kerry Brown, Time, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Some observers view this awkward remark as a sign that Israel may eventually shift its position.
    MSNBC Newsweek, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
  • As North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stepped off his armored green train in Beijing on Tuesday, greeted by Chinese officials shaking his hand and leading him down a red carpet, many observers noticed a young girl walking behind him, smiling politely, dressed in black with her hair tied in a bow.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • For those viewers questioning why Kendra Licari virtually harassed her own daughter, the answer is not made entirely clear in the documentary, Borgman explained in the interview.
    Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Were there conversations viewers didn’t get to see?
    Kristen Baldwin September 2, EW.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bystanders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bystanders. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on bystanders

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!